Combined turret positioner and clamp assembly for glass pressing machine

ABSTRACT

A combined turret positioner and hold-down clamp assembly at a glass pressing position of a turret-type glass pressing machine and including cooperatively mating male and female members associated with mold adaptors or supports, equally spaced apart about a peripheral portion of the machine turret, and also associated with an anvil at the glass pressing position, the mating members each embodying a vertical cross-sectional configuration of an inverted truncated isoceles triangle and there being one such member associated with each mold adaptor or support and its associated mold with one of the members being similarly precisely positioned on the turret in relation to each of the respectively associated mold adaptors and molds carried thereby. Motor means at the pressing position for successively actuating the mating member at that position into mating relationship with each successive mating one of the members as each respective mold adaptor and mold is successively moved to the pressing position, and means selectively energizing the motor means to start each mating actuation as the leading edge of each respective mating member associated with each respective mold adaptor and mold is moved into vertical alignment with the corresponding edge of the mating member at the pressing position, the mating actuation continuing until the turret is actuated into firm contact with the anvil at the pressing position. In a preferred embodiment of the invention the male and female mating members each embody a vertical crosssectional configuration of an inverted truncated right triangle with the right angle of each configuration being the truncated apex angle of such configuration.

United States Patent [191 Dahlman et al.

1 1 COMBINED TURRET POSITIONER AND CLAMP ASSEMBLY FOR GLASS PRESSING MACHINE [75] Inventors: Frederick A. Dahlman, Corning,

N.Y.; Raymond J. Mras, deceased, late of Lisle, N.Y.; by Carl A. Mras, executor, Lisle, NY.

[73] Assignee: Corning Glass Works, Corning,

22 Filed: July 29, 1974 21 Appl. No.1 492,510

Primary Examiner-S. Leon Bashore Assistant ExaminerFrank W. Miga Attorney, Agent, or FirmCharles W. Gregg; Clarence R. Patty, Jr.

[57] ABSTRACT A combined turret positioner and hold-down clamp 1 June 3, 1975 assembly at a glass pressing position of a turret-type glass pressing machine and including cooperatively mating male and female members associated with mold adaptors or supports, equally spaced apart about a peripheral portion of the machine turret, and also associated with an anvil at the glass pressing position, the mating members each embodying a vertical crosssectional configuration of an inverted truncated isoceles triangle and there being one such member associated with each mold adaptor or support and its associated mold with one of the members being similarly precisely positioned on the turret in relation to each of the respectively associated mold adaptors and molds carried thereby. Motor means at the pressing position for successively actuating the mating member at that position into mating relationship with each successive mating one of the members as each respective mold adaptor and mold is successively moved to the pressing position, and means selectively energizing the motor means to start each mating actuation as the leading edge of each respective mating member associated with each respective mold adaptor and mold is moved into vertical alignment with the corresponding edge of the mating member at the pressing position, the mating actuation continuing until the turret is actuated into firm contact with the anvil at the pressing position. In a preferred embodiment of the invention the male and female mating members each embody a vertical crosssectional configuration of an inverted truncated right triangle with the right angle of each configuration being the truncated apex angle of such configuration.

4 Claims, 9 Drawing Figures PATENTEBJUN3 SHEET 4 3.887351 28e O 0 28d F lg. 4

65 2i &

COMBINED TURRET POSITIONER AND CLAMP ASSEMBLY FOR GLASS PRESSING MACHINE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION There is disclosed, for example, in US. Pat. No. 3,138,241, entitled Glass Press Mold Turret" and issued June 23, 1964 to F. A. Dahlman, a locking means for the turret of a turret-type glass pressing machine and a hold-down device for holding the turret down against an anvil at a glass pressing position during press forming operations of such machine. Said locking means comprises a locking pin at the free end of a fluid operated piston for elevating the pin into a cooperative slot in the under side of the turret when a mold adaptor and mold carried by the turret is precisely positioned at the glass pressing position, and said hold-down clamp comprises a fluid operated hold-down device located at the glass pressing position and pivoted about a horizontal axis to actuate the turret downwardly into contact with said anvil following the aforesaid locking of the turret. It will be apparent that, in the apparatus of said patent, the elevating of the locking pin into said slot in the turret for the purpose of locking the turret against rotation cannot be performed until a mold adaptor is precisely positioned at the glass pressing station, and that the hold-down device must not be operated to actuate the turret into contact with the anvil at the glass pressing position until after said locking pin has been elevated for locking the turret against rotation.

For obvious economic reasons, it is expedient to operate a glass pressing machine at as high a rate of speed as possible in order to attain the maximum possible output from said machine in any selected period of time. Since the period of time required for a ram or pressing plunger to enter a glass charge in a mold, press form such charge and then move out of contact with the pressed charge depends substantially on the composition of the glass charge being pressed, it is virtually impossible to reduce said period of time below a certain minimum time period required for the press forming of the glass charge and the setting-up of the charge following the press forming thereof. Therefore, if the operation of a glass-pressing machine is to be increased in speed after said minimum time period is attained, such increase must be achieved by speeding up such machine during the so-called idle time of the pressing plunger or ram. Also, as is well known in the art, the indexing or periodic rotation of a turret type glasspressing machine, such as disclosed in the aforesaid patent, is limited to a maximum speed due to the dynamics involved with such periodic rotation and the mobility of the glass charges in the forming molds of the pressing machine prior to the press forming thereof. Accordingly, when the minimum time period of the aforesaid pressing cycle and the maximum speed of said indexing operations are attained, the only way that additional speed of operation of a glass-pressing machine of the above-mentioned type can be achieved is to perform, to the extent possible, certain operations of the machine simultaneously. Thus, the combined turret positioner and clamp assembly of the present invention was developed, the object of such novel assembly being to start, during the latter part of each indexing movement of a machine of the aforesaid type, the precise positioning, at the glass pressing. position, of each mold adaptor and associated forming mold carried by the turret of the machine to such position, and to perform, at an'earlier point in time than was heretofore possible following each said precise positioning of a mold adaptor and associated forming mold, the clamping of the machine turret to temporarily prevent further rotation thereof and to thereby temporarily maintain said mold adaptor and associated forming mold in their said precise position at the glass pressing position of the machine.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a simplified and, therefore, improved means or assembly for precisely positioning, at a glass pressing position, the mold adaptor and molds carried by the turret of a turret-type glass-pressing machine and for clamping such turret to temporarily maintain said precise positioning following each attainment thereof.

Other objects and characteristic features of the invention will become apparent as the description proceeds.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The invention is believed to be adequately summarized in the foregoing abstract of the disclosure and, therefore, to prevent repetition or redundancy, and for the sake of brevity of the disclosure to the extent possible, no further summary of the invention is considered necessary nor will any be given.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a front elevational view ofa combined turret positioner and clamp assembly in accordance with the invention;

FIG. 2 comprises a cross-sectional view of the assembly of FIG. 1, such view being taken generally along line 22 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a side elevational view of the assembly of FIG. 1 and illustrates the mounting or attachment of the assembly on or to the anvil of a known glass pressing machine of the turret type;

FIG. 4 is a top plan view of apart of the assembly of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is an elevational view of the assembly part of FIG. 4, such view being taken generally along line 5-5 of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a top plan view of another part of the assembly embodying the invention;

FIG. 7 comprises an elevational view of the assembly part of FIG. 6; 1

FIG. 8 is an elevational view of a portion of the assembly part of FIG. 7, such viewing also including a clamp or clamp member of the assembly disclosed and also illustrating by solid lines such clamp member in an upper or non-clamping position, and by dotted lines the clamp member in a lower or clamping position; and

FIG. 9 is a diagrammatic and schematic view of the assembly embodying the invention and control means therefor.

Similar reference characters refer to similar parts in each of the FIGS. of the drawings.

Preferred Embodiment of the Invention Referring to the drawings in detail, there is shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3 the combined turret positioner and clamp assembly embodying the invention and comprising a support member 11 for a clamp member 20 including a male wedge or wedge portion 21 and to'be hereinafter discussed in detail. Member 11 has an upper or head portion 12 to which said clamp member 20 is attached as hereinafter discussed and an intermediate and lower portion 13 having a generally C-shaped configuration when viewing FIGS. 2 and 3, such portion 13 including generally horizontally extending upper and lower arms 14 and 15, respectively. which extend to the right when viewing such drawing Figures.

Arms 14 and 15 of support member 11 include, adjacent the otherwise free ends thereof, circular horizontal boss portions 16 and 17 respectively, which embody vertical passages 18 and 19, respectively, through which extend the upper and lower ends, respectively, of a piston rod 26 of a motor means comprising a pressurized fluid cylinder 28 and such piston rod 26, such rod extending through the bore 28a of the cylinder and having a central piston portion 27 integral with rod 26. Such piston portion 27 has annularly thereabout a plurality of the usual piston rings such as 27a (FIG. 2). The boss portions 16 and 17 of arms 14 and 15 of support member 11 snugly surround said respective upper and lower ends of piston rod 26 and each of said free ends of arms 14 and 15 are split or have vertical split openings therein leading into said passages 18 and 19 in boss portions 16 and 17. Threaded bolts such as 29 and 30 (FIG. 2) extend through boss portions 16 and 17 and through said split openings to secure or clamp arms 14 and 15, respectively, to the upper and lower ends, respectively, of piston rod 26, such arrangements being old and well known. A pair of upper and lower bushings or sleeve members, 31 and 32, are provided in bore 28a of cylinder 28 at the upper and lower ends, respectively, of such bore and a pair of cap members 33 and 34 are bolted to the upper and lower ends of cylinder 28 to hold the sleeve members or bushings within bore 28a of cylinder 28. Said bushings and cap members 31,

32, 33 and 34 embody circular passages or bores 35, v

36, 37 and 38, respectively, and the upper end ofpiston rod 26 extends snugly but slidably through said bores or passages 35 and 37 while the lower end of such rod similarly extends snugly but slidably through said bores or passages 36 and 38.

Referring to FIGS. 4 and 5, taken in conjunction with FIG. 1, it will be noted that cylinder 28 is an integral part of a casting which also includes upwardly and outwardly extending arm portions 28b and 280, which are guide arms for the upper or head portion 12 of support member 11; and lower, outwardly extending flange portion 28d and 28e by which the assembly embodying the invention is, as hereinafter discussed in detail, mounted adjacent a glass pressing machine of the type hereinbefore mentioned. There is attached to the inner surfaces or faces of said extending arm portions 28b and 280 a pair of slide plates 40 and 41, respectively, as shown in FIG. 1. There is also attached to the outer faces of head portion 12 of support member 11 a pair of slide plates 42 and 43 which cooperate with slide plates 40 and 41, respectively, to precisely guide the upper end of support member 11 to prevent lateral movement thereof. That is to say, guide plates 40 and 42 have extremely smooth facing and contacting surfaces 40a and 42a which slide on or against each other during vertical actuation of support member 11 and prevent leftward movement of member 11 (viewing FIG. 1) during such actuation. Similarly, guide plates 41 and 43 have extremely smooth facing and contacting surfaces 41a and 43a which slide on or against each other during vertical actuation of support member 11 and prevent rightward movement of member 11(viewing FIG. l) during such actuation.

Referring further to FIGS. 1 and 2 of the drawings, there is shown a pair of upper and lower pressurized fluid conduits CD1 and CD2, respectively which extend through a slot 11a embodied in support member 11 and are connected into passages P1 and P2, respectively, whichextend through the wall of cylinder 28 into bore 280 embodied therein, such passages opening into such bore immediately below and above the lower and upper annular surfaces of bushings or sleeve members 31 and 32 in bore 28a of cylinder 28. It will be readily apparent that pressurized fluid supplied to conduit CD1 and thence through passage P1 to bore 28a of cylinder 28 will actuate piston rod 26 downwardly in such bore while, similarly, pressurized fluid supplied to conduit CD2 and thence through passage P2 to bore 28a of cylinder 28 will actuate piston rod 26 upwardly in such bore. This will be discussed further hereinafter in conjunction with FIG. 9 of the drawings.

There is shown in FIGS. 1 and 3 a pair of upper and lower limit switches LS2 and LS3, respectively, which are mounted on a face of a suitable support plate 44 (left hand face viewing FIG. 3) which is, in turn, (also viewing FIG. 3) mounted on the left hand face of flange portion 28e of the aforesaid casting of cylinder 28. An adjustable member 46 for contacting and actuating the push button or actuating member AM2 of switch LS2 is mounted on the upper part of a suitable support bracket 48 so that such push button or actuating member is contacted and actuated when support member 11 reaches a predetermined point in an upward movement thereof. Similarly, an actuating member 47 for contacting and actuating the push button or actuating member AM3 of switch LS3 is mounted on the lower part of support bracket 48 so that such push button or actuat ing member is contacted and actuated, as illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 3, when support member 11 reaches a predetermined point in a downward movement thereof. Such actuations will be further discussed hereinafter in conjunction with FIG. 9..It is pointed out that aforesaid support bracket 48 is attached to the right hand side (viewing FIG. 1) of support member 11 and extends outwardly from such member in a left hand direction (when viewing FIG. 3).

Referring now to FIGS. 6 and 7 there is shown a series of three arcuate rail segments such as 60 the center one of which is shown as embodying in the upper surface thereof a channel 61 having sloping ends 61a and 61b and a level bottom surface 610. More accurately, channel 61 has an elevational or a vertical cross sectional configuration of an invertcd truncated isoceles triangle and, preferably, such configuration is that of an inverted truncated right triangle with the right angle of such configuration being the truncated apex angle thereof. In other words, it is preferable that the aforesaid sloping ends 6la and 61b of channel 61 each meet the bottom or bottom surface 61c of such channel at an angle of about However such angles are not absolutely critical and each such angle may be an angle of a somewhat greater or lesser number of degrees than said preferred angle of 135. Channel61 may be considered to be the female mating membepof a pair of male and female mating membersas hereinafter further setforth. '1

Referring to FIG. 3 taken in conjunction with FIGS. 2 and 8, there is shown the previously mentioned clamp member including a male wedge, or wedge portion or member 21, having sloping ends, that is, embodying an elevational or vertical cross-sectional configuration of an inverted truncated isoceles triangle corresponding to the aforesaid configuration of channel 61 in rail segment 60 (FIGS. 6 and 7) such wedge member being the male mating member of the aforesaid pair of male and female mating members and the wedge member being cooperative with the female members, such as channel 61, as hereinafter discussed in more detail. Member 20 is attached to upper portion 12 of support member 11 by bolts such as 2011 (FIGS. 2 and 8).

It is believed expedient to point out, at this point in the description, the manner in which the combined assembly of the present invention is mounted and employed in conjunction with a glass pressing machine of the turret type such as, for example, shown in the previously cited patent to F. A. Dahlman, and how the aforesaid objects of the present invention are attained by the assembly disclosed. Reference is made to FIG. 3 of the drawings of the present application for such purpose.

There is shown in FIG. 3 portions of several parts of a glass pressing machine such as shown in said patent to Dahlman, such parts including an anvil such as 75 located at the glass pressing position of said machine, a mold adaptor support shelf 22 of the turret of such machine and a mold support or adaptor 25. A series or plurality of such adaptors are equally spaced apart in a circular row extending about shelf 22 adjacent the outer periphery thereof and are carried thereby, each such adaptor 25 (and a mold carried thereby) being periodically moved or indexed to the pressing position above anvil 75. (See FIG. 2 of the Dahlman patent.) The combined assembly of the present invention extends partially into a hollow or recess in the front of said anvil 75 or the left hand side of such anvil as illustrated in FIG. 3, and the assembly is precisely secured or securely attached to the anvil as by a plurality offour threaded bolts such as 64 (FIG. 3) inserted through suitably cooperative countersunk holes such as 65 extending through portions 28d and 28e of the foresaid casting of cylinder 28 (FIGS. 1, 3 and 5) and into cooperatively threaded holes such as 66 provided in anvil 75 as shown in FIG. 3.

It will be understood that a series or succession of the arcuate rail segments such as 60 shown in FIGS. 3, 6, 7 and 8 are disposed about the outer periphery of the aforesaid shelf 22 of the turret of a glass pressing machine such as disclosed in the Dahlman patent with such series or succession of rail segments being slightly spaced apart and the series thus forming a circular rail means extending about said periphery with one of such rail segments being respectively associated with each of the mold adaptors such as 25. The rail segments such as 60 are affixed to said shelf 22 so that a centerline of the channel such as 61 in each said rail segment, each such centerline being equally spaced from the ends 61a and 61b of each respective channel 61, is precisely aligned with the center of the respectively associated adaptor when such adaptor is precisely positioned at the glass-pressing position of the machine of said patent. The assembly of the present invention is, as previously mentioned, secured or attached to anvil 75 (FIG. 3) and such assembly is so secured or attached so that the centerline of the wedge, wedge portion or wedge member 21 is precisely aligned with said centerline of the channel such as 61 in each rail segment such as when each such segment is moved to the pressing position of said glass pressing machine, said centerline of wedge 21 being a line equally spaced from the sloping ends 21a and 21b of such wedge.

Referring to FIG. 9 of the drawings, some of the parts shown schematically therein are designated by the same reference characters as the corresponding parts in the other FIGS. of the drawings as is believed readily apparent. It is also pointed out that the pressurized fluid indicated in FIG. 9 is from the same source used for operation of the glass pressing machine of the Dahlman patent and that a source of direct electrical current of suitable voltage and capacity is provided for actuation or operation of some of the parts of the assembly illustrated in FIG. 9. However, for purposes of simplification of the drawings such source is not shown therein but its positive and negative terminals are designated B and N, respectively.

There is also shown in FIG. 9 an electrical solenoidactuated fluid flow control valve SV including solenoid windings W1 and W2, a set of contacts ab of a limit switch LS1 and a timing drum illustrated merely by a rectangle designated TD, such timing drum being the usual timing drum associated with and provided for the control of a glass pressing machine such as that of the aforesaid patent to Dahlman. Said set of contacts a-b of limit switch LS1 are shown as being open or in an electrical circuit interrupting position or condition, and such contacts are at times actuated to a closed or electrical circuit closing position or condition as discussed below. It will be noted that, in FIG. 9, piston rod 26 and, therefore, support member 11 and wedge 21 are illustrated as in their raised or upward positions and, therefore, the lower surface of shelf 22 of the turret is shown slightly spaced from the upper surface of anvil 25. In FIG. 3 wedge 21 is shown in its lowered or turret positioning, and locking or clamping position and, therefore, the lower surface of shelf 22 of the turret is shown contacting the upper surface of anvil 25.

OPERATIONAL EXAMPLE OF THE INVENTION With reference to FIG. 9, taken in conjunction with FIG. 3 of the drawings, it will be assumed that contacts (1-17 of limit switch LS1 are open because the glass pressing machine, with which the disclosed turret positioner and clamp assembly is employed, has just finished a press-forming operation and an indexing movement of the turret of such machine is occuring or taking place. As the machine turret and its shelf 22 move a mold carried by a mold adaptor such as 25 towards the glass-pressing position of the glass pressing machine, an associated arcuate rail section such as 60, associated with the respective mold adaptor and the carried mold, is also correspondingly moved, as is believed readily apparent. When such parts are moved a distance such that the leading upper edge of end 61a of channel 61, in the arcuate rail section 60 approaching the glasspressing position, is generally vertically aligned with, that is, is vertically below the corresponding lower edge of wedge or wedge member 21, that is, is vertically below the lower edge of end 21a of wedge or wedge member 21 (FIG. 8) the set of contacts a-b of limit switch LS1 (FIG. 9) are immediately and speedily actuated closed, such actuation being performed, for example, by a suitable device provided on a part of the glass pressing machine, which such device contacts the actuating arm or button of switch LS1 at such time. Such actuating device may, for example, be carried on or by arm 70 (FIG. 1 of the Dahlman patent) and switch LS1 may be located on said machine so that its said actuating arm or button is contacted and actuated by the actuating device when the above described point in the movement of a rail segment such as 60 by the glasspressing machine is reached. In any event, the set of contacts a-b of switch LS1 are actuated closed each time a rail segment such as 60, approaching the glasspressing position of the machine, moves its channel such as 61 into the alignment described. (See FIG. 8.)

Previously mentioned pressurized fluid valve SV is shown in FIG. 9 as in a position such that it is supplying pressurized fluid from conduit CD3 through such valve (viewing FIG. 9) to conduit CD2 and thence to the lower end of bore 28a in cylinder 28 to actuate the parts of the assembly to their positions shown in FIG. 9, the upper end of said bore being connected through conduit CD1 and valve SV to a fluid sink SK at such time. When, however, contacts a-b of switch LS1 are actuated closed as discussed above, a circuit is closed for energizing solenoid winding W1 of valve SV, such circuit extending from said terminal B of the previously mentioned source of electric current, over said contacts a-b of switch LS1 and thence through winding W1 to terminal N of the current source. This shifts valve SV so that the pressurized fluid flows from conduit CD3 through the valve to the upper end of bore 28a of cylinder 28, the lower end of bore 28a being connected through the valve to said fluid sink SK at such time. The pressurized fluid, at such time, actuates the piston of piston rod 26 downwardly and such rod in turn, moves support member 11 and wedge support member also downwardly, with wedge or wedge member 21 being actuated downwardly towards channel 61 which is being moved, by its respective arcuate rail segment such as 60, to the glass-pressing position of the glass pressing machine. It will therefore be seen, with reference to FIG. 8, that the wedge, wedge portion or wedge member 21 starts to move downwardly towards and into a channel such as 61 of a rail segment such as 60 at a point in time prior to the completion of an indexing movement of the glass pressing machine, that is, prior to the completion of a movement of a mold adaptor such as and its carried mold to the glass-pressing position of the machine. Such downward movement of said wedge or wedge member 21 into said channel such as 61 is performed simultaneously with the last part of said indexing movement, and such downward movement initially causes the lower part of end 21a of wedge 21 to contact the upper part of end 61a of said channel 61. Subsequent continued downward actuation of wedge 21 causes said end 21a of the wedge to slide downwardly over said end 61a to thereby aid in the completion of the machine indexing movement which occurs in an extremely short period of time thereafter. Further continuing downward movement of the wedge or wedge member 21 causes the lower part of sloping end 21b of such member to contact end 6112 of channel 61 (FIG. 8). Thus, shelf 22 of the machine turret, and the adaptor such as 25 and its carried mold are precisely positioned at the glasspressing position. Subsequently, the continuing downward movement of wedge or wedge member 21 presses the lower surface of turret shelf 22 into firm contact with the upper surface of anvil 75, as shown in FIG. 3, to clamp turret shelf 22,- such clamping preventing rocking movement of such shelf, adaptor 25 and its carried mold when the ram of the glass pressing machine and, thereby, the forming plunger of such machine, are actuated downwardly and such forming plunger moves into press-forming engagement with a glass charge or gob in said mold.

With further reference to FIGS. 1, 3 and 9 of the drawings, it will be noted that, when support member 11 was moved downwardly a selected distance, actuating member AM3 of limit switch LS3 was contacted and actuated by member 47. Such actuation of limit switch LS3 closed a normally open contact in such switch and there was prepared an electrical circuit for a ram down control solenoid of a valve which controls the supply of pressurized fluid to said ram of the glass pressing machine, such contact of switch LS3 in said circuit assuring that the aforesaid positioning and clamping has been performed prior to actuation of said ram. Said valve and solenoid, and said ram, do not, per se, form part of the present invention and, therefore, are not shown in the drawings for purposes of simplification thereof.

Following the pressing of a glass charge or gob as mentioned above, a contact in timing drum TD (FIG. 9) is closed and solenoid winding W2 of valve SV is energized over a circuit extending from terminal B of the electric current source over said closed contact in timing drum TD and thence through said winding W2 to terminal N of the current source. The energization of winding W2 of valve SV shifts such valve to again connect, through such valve, conduit CD3 to conduit CD2 to again supply pressurized fluid to the lower end of bore 28a of cylinder 28 and to connect the upper end of such bore through conduit CD1 to fluid sink SK. This causes upward actuation of piston 27 of piston rod 26 and of such rod and support member 11 to cause withdrawal of wedge or wedge member 21 from its positioning and clamping relationship with the channel such as 61 in the respective rail segment such as 60.

The above discussed upward actuation of support member 11 causes member 46 (FIGS. 1 and 3) to contact actuating member AM2 of limit switch LS2 and reclose a contact of such switch to prepare, along with the aforesaid closed contact in timing drum TD, an energizing circuit for a control solenoid of a valve controlling the supply of pressurized fluid to the turret indexing apparatus of the glass pressing machine, such apparatus being omitted from the drawings for pur poses of simplification thereof and because such apparatus does not, per se, form part of the present invention. Said contact of switch LS2 assures that the turret positioning and clamping are no longer in effect and that wedge or wedge member 21 is raised or is at least in transit to its raised position before an indexing movement of the machine turret can be performed. It should be pointed out that, following the previously discussed indexing movement of the machine turret, turret shelf, mold adaptor and the mold carried thereby, the aforesaid device, which actuated limit switch LS1 to close contacts a-b of such switch and operated, for example, by the movement of the indexing arm of the machine of the Dahlman patent, becomes unactuated by the return movement of such arm to its preparatory machine indexing position and, therefore, said contacts a-b of limit switch LS1 are opened when such arm 70 leaves the end of the machine indexing path of movement of the arm. Thus, winding W1 of valve SV became or becomes deenergized at such time and, when winding W2 of such valve is energized as discussed above, valve SV is shifted or returned to its prior posi tion illustrated in FIG. 9, there being no interference with such shifting of valve SV due to the continued energization of winding W1 of such valve.

It is pointed out that the male and female mating members of the pairs of mating members, comprising each channel such as 61 and the wedge or wedge member such as 20, could be changed about or reversed if found desirable or expedient to do so. That is to say, each of the arcuate rail segments such as 60 (FIGS. 6 and 7) could be substantially thinner and include on the upper surface thereof a male mating member (wedge or wedge member) having a configuration such as that of wedge or wedge member 21 (FIG. 8) and there could be embodied in a support member such as 20 a female mating member (channel) having a config uration such as that of each channel such as 61 in each rail segment such as 60. However, the preferred embodiment of the invention is as shown and discussed in detail herein.

It is believed expedient to point out that a glass pressing machine such as shown in the cited patent to Dahl man was tested for maximum operating speed prior to the substitution of the combined turret positioner and clamp assembly of the present invention for the sepa rate turret positioner and turret clamp shown and described in said Dahlman patent. The highest speed of operation obtained during such test of said machine was 53 cycles or indexing movements of the machine per minute, which, of course, means that the maximum number of pieces of ware that were able to be produced on said machine was 53 pieces per minute. Following the substitution of the combined turret positioner and clamp assembly of the present invention for the prior separate turret positioner and turret clamp, such as disclosed in the Dahlman patent, another test was made and the maximum speed of operation of the glass pressing machine was then 62 cycles or indexing movements of the machine per minute, thereby, resulting in the production of 62 pieces of ware per minute or a percentage increase in production on the order of percent.

Although there is herein shown and described only one form of apparatus embodying the invention, it will be understood that such is not intended to be in any way limiting but that various changes and modifications may be made therein within the purview of the appended claims without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. In combination with a rotatable turret of a turrettype glass pressing machine having a circular row of mold adaptors equally spaced apart about a peripheral portion thereof with means adapted to successively index said adaptors to each of a plurality of positions including a glass pressing position at which an anvil is arranged under and adjacent to said turret in close proximity thereto, a combined turret positioner and hold-down clamp assembly for said glass pressing position, such assembly comprising;

A. circular rail means including a plurality of similar arcuate and slightly spaced apart rail segments extending about said turret adjacent the outer periphery thereof and equal in number to said mold adaptors, each such rail segment embodying in the upper surface thereof a channel, each such channel being congruent with the others and each having a vertical cross-sectional configuration of an inverted truncated isoceles triangle and each rail segment being similarly located adjacent an associated one of said mold adaptors with the channel in the respective segment precisely positioned in relation to the respectively associated adaptor;

B. a vertically actuable wedge member at said glass pressing position, said wedge member including a portion having a crosssectional configuration corresponding to said configuration of each said channel and such wedge portion being normally positioned above said rail means in close proximity thereto;

C. motor' means for actuating said wedge member downwardly and said wedge portion into each said channel as each respective rail segment is indexed to said glass pressing position and for thereafter actuating such wedge portion out of each such channel; and

D. control means for energizing said motor means in a first mode to start said downward actuation of said wedge member as the leading upper edge of each respective channel is moved vertically below the corresponding lower edge of the wedge portion of such wedge member and to continue such downward actuation until the ends of the wedge portion are in firm contact with the ends of the respective channel and said turret is actuated into firm contact with said anvil, and for thereafter energizing said motor means in a second mode to actuate said wedge portion upwardly out of each respective channel.

2. A combined turret positioner and hold-down clamp assembly in accordance with claim 1 and in which said cross-sectional configurations of said channels and said wedge portion are those of truncated right triangles with the right angle of each such configuration being the truncated apex angle of the configuration.

3. A combined turret positioner and hold-down clamp assembly in accordance with claim 1 and in which said motor means comprises a pressurized fluid actuated cylinder and its associated piston rod.

4. A combined turret positioner and hold-down clamp assembly in accordance with claim 2 and in which said motor means comprises a pressurized fluid actuated cylinder and its associated piston rod. 

1. In combination with a rotatable turret of a turret-type glass pressing machine having a circular row of mold adaptors equally spaced apart about a peripheral portion thereof with means adapted to successively index said adaptors to each of a plurality of positions including a glass pressing position at which an anvil is arranged under and adjacent to said turret in close proximity thereto, a combined turret positioner and holddown clamp assembly for said glass pressing position, such assembly comprising; A. circular rail means including a plurality of similar arcuate and slightly spaced apart rail segments extending about said turret adjacent the outer periphery thereof and equal in number to said mold adaptors, each such rail segment embodying in the upper surface thereof a channel, each such channel being congruent with the others and each having a vertical crosssectional configuration of an inverted truncated isoceles triangle and each rail segment being similarly located adjacent an associated one of said mold adaptors with the channel in the respective segment precisely positioned in relation to the respectively associated adaptor; B. a vertically actuable wedge member at said glass pressing position, said wedge member including a portion having a crosssectional configuration corresponding to said configuration of each said channel and such wedge portion being normally positioned above said rail means in close proximity thereto; C. motor means for actuating said wedge member downwardly and said wedge portion into each said channel as each respective rail segment is indexed to said glass pressing position and for thereafter actuating such wedge portion out of each such channel; and D. control means for energizing said motor means in a first mode to start said downward actuation of said wedge member as the leading upper edge of each respective channel is moved vertically below the corresponding lower edge of the wedge portion of such wedge member and to continue such downward actuation until the ends of the wedge portion are in firm contact with the ends of the respective channel and said turret is actuated into firm contact with said anvil, and for thereafter energizing said motor means in a second mode to actuate said wedge portion upwardly out of each respective channel.
 1. In combination with a rotatable turret of a turret-type glass pressing machine having a circular row of mold adaptors equally spaced apart about a peripheral portion thereof with means adapted to successively index said adaptors to each of a plurality of positions including a glass pressing position at which an anvil is arranged under and adjacent to said turret in close proximity thereto, a combined turret positioner and hold-down clamp assembly for said glass pressing position, such assembly comprising; A. circular rail means including a plurality of similar arcuate and slightly spaced apart rail segments extending about said turret adjacent the outer periphery thereof and equal in number to said mold adaptors, each such rail segment embodying in the upper surface thereof a channel, each such channel being congruent with the others and each having a vertical cross-sectional configuration of an inverted truncated isoceles triangle and each rail segment being similarly located adjacent an associated one of said mold adaptors with the channel in the respective segment precisely positioned in relation to the respectively associated adaptor; B. a vertically actuable wedge member at said glass pressing position, said wedge member including a portion having a cross-sectional configuration corresponding to said configuration of each said channel and such wedge portion being normally positioned above said rail means in close proximity thereto; C. motor means for actuating said wedge member downwardly and said wedge portion into each said channel as each respective rail segment is indexed to said glass pressing position and for thereafter actuating such wedge portion out of each such channel; and D. control means for energizing said motor means in a first mode to start said downward actuation of said wedge member as the leading upper edge of each respective channel is moved vertically below the corresponding lower edge of the wedge portion of such wedge member and to continue such downward actuation until the ends of the wedge portion are in firm contact with the ends of the respective channel and said turret is actuated into firm contact with said anvil, and for thereafter energizing said motor means in a second mode to actuate said wedge portion upwardly out of each respective channel.
 2. A combined turret positioner and hold-down clamp assembly in accordance with claim 1 and in which said cross-sectional configurations of said channels and said wedge portion are those of truncated right triangles with the right angle of each such configuration being the truncated apex angle of the configuration.
 3. A combined turret positioner and hold-down clamp assembLy in accordance with claim 1 and in which said motor means comprises a pressurized fluid actuated cylinder and its associated piston rod. 